The Star. MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1869.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 278, 5 April 1869, Page 2

The Star. MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1869.

The Press of this morning informs its readers that " the late despatches from <s Colonel Whifcinore are a most satis- " factory refutation of the objection " taken to., the policy of self-reliance, " from the supposed extreme difficulty, "if not impossibility, of raising a " European force capable of following "the Maoris into the bush." We were not aware, till we saw this statement, that any objection had ever been takeu to the self-reliance policy on the ground mentioned, and the Press itself furnishes pretty conclusive proof that the so-called objection is a figment of its own creation, for it says — " We " have never held the alleged difficulty "in much, account." The objection to the self-reliance policy —if that can be called a policy which I even its own projectors abandoned as 1 I soon as it came to the test — has not been that it was impossible or even difficult to raise a force that would follow the Maoris into the bush, but that the resources of the colony were utterly inadequate to the very first demands which the policy made. What useful end can be served by conjuring up objections which have never been entertained ? Would it not be more honest in the Press to confess at once that the policy of selfreliance ia a miserable failure, and that those who were its most strenuous i advocates have given ib up ? What is the history of the self-re-liance policy ? . Projected by Mr Weld when he took office in 18G1, it was virtually abandoned when he consented to take a third part of the force which he at first thought necessary. The A6sembly could not see its way to the maintenance of a permanent force of 1500 men, and" Mr Weld modified his views to suit the circumstances of the colony, as was said, though he must have known that he had really given them up: Mr Stafford took office on the " Let-alone" policy, and when M.e3srs Fitzherbert, Hall, and Eichnaond became his colleagues, it can hardly be supposed that he consented to forego his own views for theirs. Mr FitzGerald, who may be termed the most ardent, most impracticable, and least . consistent advocate of sejf-reliance, though he clung to the meVe 'phrase,' wrote a letter to the Wellington Independent in which he enunciated the queer theory of getting money and arms from England while we repudiated any interference

on her part. Ini^yery possible way, the self-reliance f policy^ ia a wretched failure. It is now" a f mere form of words, and it is theY worst possible folly, the most Imbecile -species of political trickery, to epeaK^bf^ it as a reality. It was never-aiiy thiipg <but a sham; it is now an exploded political cry. : = •..■ . ,• ■- .- In somewhat ambiguous language, the Press tells us that, so far, the colony has got the best of it. The best of what? "When, where/ and how ? What substantial victory has been achieved ? We have been at war over nine; months, and what have wedone? What is there to show for it ? How many of our foes have been slain ? We think it will be found, when, the, question comes to be considered, that we have spent about £500,000 and have gained almost nothing. The capture of Ngatapa reflected great credit on the energy, perseverance, and skill of those engaged, particularly on our* Native allies, but Te Kobti i« in the field again, stronger for evil than before. Colonel Whitmore's latest despatches, if carefully read, show as plainly as possible that he has done all he can do with Titoko waru. He has hunted him from place to place, and he is brought up all standing by a fear that if he goes on, so-called friendly, or neutral tribes will be made active enemies. Was there ever such a plain confession of hopeless ■ impotence ? And suppose Colonel Whitmore, having hunted Titoko waru till he can hunt him no longer, is removed to the Poverty Bay district for the purpose of " crushing " — to use the Government phrase — Te Kooti? What is the result ? Why, this. While Colonel Whitmore and the colonial forces are busy with Te Kooti, Titoko waru gets, ample time to prepare for another campaign. And so the work goes on. How caw we end it?

The public have heard a good deal lately about a great native meeting to be held at Tokangamutu. They have been told that the meeting was convened by the Maori King, and that it was to decide whether the Waikato Natives should take part in the war ; in other words, whether there should be a general rising. We have the very best and most reliable authority for stating that a general rising lias already been decided on, and that the meeting referred to is convened for the purpose of finally deciding on tlie plan of the campaign. Further, the same authority informs us that the late atrocious murders at the White Cliffs, in Taranaki, were positively instigated by Rewi. This has been ascertained beyond any doubt whatever. Eewi, some month or two since, was among the Taupo Natives on a secret mission, and he warned them hot to interfere with Te Kooti ; if they did, he would attack them and; sweep them from the face of the earth. One friendly Taupo chief has implored assistance, while another, who had promised to give warning in case of real danger, and who justly claims that he has never given a false or unnecessary alarm, tells the Europeans in Hawke's Bay to look to themselves, for a general war ia decided on. These facts-— for we cannot look at them as mere conjectures—are derived from those who have unusual sources of information, and who are not alarmists, v

In addition to the above infot raation, we may add that, from the same source, we are supplied with the plaaof the Native campaign, so far as it is yet known. Rewi will join Te Kooti with 700 or 800 men. They will operate on the Bast Coast, attacking all the Poverty Bay districts and Hawke's : Bay. If the Taupo natives attempt to interfere in our behalf, they are warned : that they will be annihilated. Hakaraia and Kereopa will command a force on the ; West. Coast, operating, principally against: Taranaki ; and Titoko waru will be. assisted in a fresh advance on Wahganui'as occasion may require. "We do not, of course, say that this plan is absolutely that which has been agreed on ; but we , warn the public that they have something like this to look forward to. We have no desire to create alarm, but we consider it, our solemn duty to give publicity to' information which has reached us from a; quarter- that. ''can be -relied on. And vwe have. .no. hesitafcion:in saying that the Government, if theyi-are: not aware of what we have stated, ought to be. It they are aware

of it, and still do all they can to make the public believe that the war is virtually over, it is impossible to condemn them too strongly. In the midst of all these fearful probabilities, insane as it may appear, the Goveitomeut have dismissed from their service the only man in the colony who is capable of rendering real service on the East Coast. They have done more. In dismissing, they have tried to disgrace Mr Donald M'Lean. Again we say that the worst has yet to be expected.